- Edo Police launched a joint rescue mission after reports of kidnapped victims in Ikeken Forest.
- The abductors fled after officers stormed the area, allowing seven victims to be rescued unharmed.
- Local vigilantes and the Nigerian Army assisted the Edo Police in the coordinated forest operation.
- Police vowed to continue tracking the kidnappers and urged residents to report suspicious activity.
The Edo State Police Command has successfully rescued seven kidnapped victims during a late-night raid in Ikeken Forest, Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area.
According to the Command, the victims were abducted while working on their farms when armed men emerged from the bush and forced them deeper into the forest. One of the affected families reported the incident to the Divisional Police Office in Ewohimi, prompting immediate action.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
READ ALSO: Lakurawa Terrorists Kill Customs Officer, Burn Facility In Kebbi Attack
The report was filed by Enoch Omozokpia, who said his 65-year-old father, William Omozokpia, and six other farmers were taken away at gunpoint.
Without delay, the Divisional Police Officer mobilised a joint team made up of Edo Police operatives, soldiers from the Nigerian Army, and local vigilante groups. The security team combed the forest for hours, closing in on the abductors’ hideout. Sensing pressure, the kidnappers abandoned their captives and escaped.
READ ALSO: Policemen Fire Gunshots After INEC Declares Soludo Winner
All seven victims were rescued without injury. The released captives are:
William Akhabue, Innocent Ebarekor, Rachel Ebarekor, Efuah Ebarekor, Winner Ebarekor, William Omozokpia, and Lucky Igiese (popularly known as “Bulala”).
The Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, praised the bravery of the officers, soldiers, and vigilantes involved in the operation. He restated the Command’s commitment to ending kidnapping and violent attacks in the state.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious movement or unfamiliar faces to the nearest police formation.
